An Ipswich man who downloaded nearly 50,000 indecent images of children on his computer and mobile phone has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Police seized computer equipment and an iPhone belonging to 49-year-old David Cubitt during a search of his address in Landseer Road, Ipswich in June and took them away for analysis.

When experts examined the equipment nearly 50,000 indecent images of children were discovered of which 40,000 were at level one which is the lowest level of child porn, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

A further 2,500 images were at level two, 3,000 at level three, 2,500 at level four and 287 at level five, said Michael Crimp, prosecuting.

When Cubitt was asked about the indecent images he said he didn’t know how they got there but when the case came to court he pleaded guilty to four offences of making indecent images of children between June 2011 and June 2013.

Sentencing Cubitt to an 18 month prison sentence suspended for two years Recorder Richard Atchley said he initially had every intention of sending him straight to prison but had decided to suspend the sentence because of Cubitt’s early guilty pleas and his previous good character.

In addition to the suspended sentence Recorder Atchley ordered Cubitt to do 120 hours unpaid work in the community and placed him under the supervision of the probation service for two years.

Neil Saunders for Cubitt said his client had lost his good character as a result of his guilty pleas to the offences and he was aware he could be sent straight to prison.